Great States (16") Standard 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower

The biggest misconception about reel mowers is that the spinning reel cuts the grass.

In reality, reel mowers only have one long razor blade at the bottom of the mower.

The spinning blades basically grab the grass and force it against the razor blade like pencil sharper.

Over time, the blade wears down, making the grass cutting chore as difficult as cutting paper with dull scissors.

To sharpen it, you simply apply an abrasive on the reels with a brush then crank.

The abrasive fills the gap between the spinning reel and razor blade.

The grinding action wears down the blade until its razor sharp again.

The biggest misconception about reel mowers is that the spinning reel cuts the grass.

In reality, reel mowers only have one long razor blade at the bottom of the mower.

The spinning blades basically grab the grass and force it against the razor blade like pencil sharper.

Over time, the blade wears down, making the grass cutting chore as difficult as cutting paper with dull scissors.

To sharpen it, you simply apply an abrasive on the reels with a brush then crank.

The abrasive... more

I received the package and set about putting it together. The instructions were easy to follow and took about 5 minutes to assemble. The height adjustment is also easy and intuitive.

It mows high and low grass easily. So easily that even the kids should have no trouble with it. As long as there are no sticks to foul the blade, it keeps going with no issues. If you do get a jam, a quick pull backwards seems to clear it.

It works well on regular lawn grass and crabgrass. The only problem is if, like me, you let the crabgrass stems grow to 3 feet, as the blades can't catch it and pull it to the blade. I quickly trimmed them down with an edger and have had no issues since.

The nicest feature is that this is a quiet mower. I live in an area that can exceed 110 degrees in the summer and mowing with a gas mower in that heat is miserable. With this mower, I am able to mow early in the morning without disturbing the neighbors.

I received the package and set about putting it together. The instructions were easy to follow and took about 5 minutes to assemble. The height adjustment is also easy and intuitive.

It mows high and low grass easily. So easily that even the kids should have no trouble with it. As long as there are no sticks to foul the blade, it keeps going with no issues. If you do get a jam, a quick pull backwards seems to clear it.

It works well on regular lawn grass and crabgrass. The only... more

Our gas mower broke 3 weeks ago & needs a part ordered, so we needed something in the meantime. I lean toward natural things anyway & thought a reel mower would be nice to try in the interim as they're definitely less expensive than power mowers, "green", would save hassle and/or money of borrowing/renting a mower or hiring a mowing service. Plus, it we would always have a backup mower on hand.

It was a cinch to put together & so easy to operate. Our lawn hadn't been cut in almost 1-1/2 weeks, but this mower got it back to looking normal despite the lawn's quick growth, weeds, & random sticks. It only got jammed a few times from twigs, but you just stop & slide the twigs or debris out. My husband was even able to power it through a patch of thick 12" tall grass!

If you understand how these mowers work, you won't be disappointed with this one. It's both light & sturdy. The grass actually looks healthier! This mower was easier for me to push than gas mowers & actually fun. I also like that I don't have to worry so much if our kids are out while I'm mowing & I can even feel safe wearing my baby while mowing now. (Not to mention I no longer have to wait for hubby to be home to start the mower for me.)

Our neighbor had to try it & was both surprised & impressed with how easy & well it pushes & cuts. This mower is a real deal for a reel mower. In this economy, I'm looking forward to the savings on gas, oil, & maintenance as well as not further polluting the Earth! I will be using this reel mower along with our gas mower if not primarily from now on. Our 1,260-sf home & 240-sf garage sit on .17-acres or 7,250-sf. to give an idea of the yard size.

Our gas mower broke 3 weeks ago & needs a part ordered, so we needed something in the meantime. I lean toward natural things anyway & thought a reel mower would be nice to try in the interim as they're definitely less expensive than power mowers, "green", would save hassle and/or money of borrowing/renting a mower or hiring a mowing service. Plus, it we would always have a backup mower on hand.

It was a cinch to put together & so easy to operate. Our lawn hadn't... more

I've used it only once, but so far it's just what I wanted: Sharp-it cut high grass and weeds without a problem-and good for hard-to-reach areas- and the sound reminds me of my childhood! My only concern is the durability of the plastic parts. Time will tell.

Works great cut our lawn like a charm...kit was easy to use.

I grew up using gas-powered push and riding mowers, but I wanted to switch to an eco-friendly approach to maintaining my lawn. This reel mower was reasonably priced and had a good customer rating, so I decided to give it a try. Out of the box, it assembled easily, and I had to make a few minor adjustments to the blades to get a clean cut across their entire width, which was simple enough. It has been working perfectly since I got it. The grass clippings get spread evenly, and it gives my lawn a more appealing look (no track marks as with gas-powered alternatives). It is easy to push. I also feel good not having to burn through fossil fuels. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a new reel mower.

I grew up using gas-powered push and riding mowers, but I wanted to switch to an eco-friendly approach to maintaining my lawn. This reel mower was reasonably priced and had a good customer rating, so I decided to give it a try. Out of the box, it assembled easily, and I had to make a few minor adjustments to the blades to get a clean cut across their entire width, which was simple enough. It has been working perfectly since I got it. The grass clippings get spread evenly, and it gives my lawn a... more

I bought this mower out of curiosity to see if it would be a good idea to use a reel mower on my yard. I'm excited to say it exceeded my expectations. My wife wants to mow the yard now! Grass is greener & softer! We love our new mower....

Works, great cut on our St. Augustine grass. I love it.

OK product - Squeaks and clogs easily, especially if grass is slightly wet. Using for very small area, so will grind it out.

I have a small yard and limited storage. This little mower does the trick, and I'm so proud to do the work myself. I'm 62, and a short woman. Yay!

I am disappointed with the cut. 1st pass always leaves uncut grass so everything must be double pass - ugh!